Instantly however Billy returned the shot, and the
revolver of Hugh Hall fell from his hand, for his
arm was broken; but he picked it up quickly and leveled
it with his left, and two shots came together.

Billy’s hat was turned half round on his head,
showing how true was the aim of his foe, while his
bullet found a target in the body of Hugh Hall.

With a groan he sunk upon the ground, and springing
to his side, Billy found him gasping fearfully for
breath.

“I am sorry, Hugh Hall, but you made me do it,”
he said sorrowfully.

But the man did not reply, and running to the horse
feeding near, he sprung into the saddle and dashed
away like the wind.

Straight to farmer Vennor’s he went and told
him all, and mounting in hot haste they rode back
to the grove of cottonwoods.

Hugh Hall still lay where he had fallen; but he was
dead, greatly to Billy’s sorrow, who had hoped
he would not die.

Then, while farmer Vennor remained by the body, Billy
went for the nearest neighbors, and ere nightfall
Hugh Hall was buried, and his two allies in crime
were captured in Leavenworth, and given warning to
leave Kansas forever, which they were glad to do,
for they had not expected such mercy at the hands
of the enraged farmers.

But before they left they confessed that Billy’s
story was a true one, and told where the wife of Hugh
Hall could be found, and once again did the boy become
a hero, even in the eyes of the bravest men, and the
settlers gave him the name of Boss Boy Billy, while
Nannie Vennor, now a mother of grown sons, each Christmas
time sends him a little souvenir, to show him that
she has not forgotten her boy lover who fought his
first duel to save her from a villain.

CHAPTER IV.

Shootingfor A prize.

While Mr. Cody was an Indian trader at Salt Creek
Valley in Kansas, Billy laid the foundation for his
knowledge of the red-skin character, and which served
him so well in after years and won him a name as scout
and hunter that no one else has ever surpassed.

For days at a time Billy would be in the Indian villages,
and often he would go with the warriors on their buffalo
and game hunts, and now and then would join a friendly
band in a war trail against hostiles.

Another favorite resort of Billy’s was Fort
Leavenworth, where his handsome face, fearlessness
and manly nature made him a great favorite with both
officers and men.

On one occasion while at the fort a large Government
herd of horses, lately brought up from Texas, where
they had been captured wild on the prairies, stampeded,
and could not be retaken.

Once or twice Billy had come into the fort with a
pony of the fugitive herd which he had captured, and
the quartermaster said to him:

“Billy, if that herd remains much longer free,
they will be harder to take than real wild horses,
so go to work and I’ll give you a reward of
ten dollars for every one you bring in, for the Government
authorizes me to make that offer.”